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Originally posted by ivanhoeNo, it's a well known fact that there is a correlation between cannabis use and mental health problems, as far as I know. This doesn't imply a causal relationship; for example, I've read that something like 90% of schizophrenic people smoke tobacco, but that doesn't mean I worry about having an Eruption every time I light a cigarette.
Ragnorak: "Recent research confirms nothing, as such."
Search the internet. It is a well known fact that cannabis usage causes serious mental and physical health problems. If you want to go on believing the sixties fairy tale that cannabis is an innocuous drug, then that is your business. I cannot change that. Bickering about it doesn't change the facts either.
(Not in reply to ivanhoe): The cost to society from illegal drugs comes mostly from their illegality. There are simply too few users of hard drugs for the behaviour of coke-addled crazies to be anything but rounding error in the total pool of drug-related mayhem; the overwhelming majority of violence and disorder caused by the simple use of drugs will always be alcohol-related. It is distribution of drugs by criminals that causes most drug-related social problems. Legalising, controlling and taxing the distribution of currently illegal drugs in the same way alcohol is controlled now would effectively end this crime, since the profitability of selling drugs illegally would decrease, and most people would rather be certain of what they're getting if possible (like in a pharmacy).
Provided advertising were controlled, I doubt such measures would encouage drug use; given the high demand for drugs now, it's doubtful that many people who want to use drugs are especially bothered about their legality, so most non-users probably simply have little interest and wouldn't take drugs even if they were legal and available.
Finally, I think in the case of serious drugs with a high potential for addiction (crack, heroin, etc.), a good approach would be to make these available only on a prescription basis for current addicts (ie, as drugs for treating a physical illness -- withdrawal -- like any other prescription medication).
Originally posted by WajomaThere is no way you can use cannabis "responsibly", because every dosage can cause health problems.
The millions of people that have [b]used cannabis responsibly makes a mockery of your use of the term. It is the abuse of cannabis, and it's illegality, that leads to problems.[/b]
Originally posted by royalchickenSearch the internet. There is a causal relationship, not just a statistical correlation.
No, it's a well known fact that there is a correlation between cannabis use and mental health problems, as far as I know. This doesn't imply a causal relationship; for example, I've read that something like 90% of schizophrenic people smoke tobacco, but that doesn't mean I worry about having an Eruption every time I light a cigarette.
Cannabis usage causes serious mental and physical health problems. Of course the more you use the more serious the health consequenses will be.
Originally posted by ivanhoeSo you don't even believe the sources you quoted in this thread who said otherwise?
Search the internet. There is a causal relationship, not just a statistical correlation.
Cannabis usage causes serious mental and physical health problems. Of course the more you use the more serious the health consequenses will be.
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Originally posted by ivanhoeThere is hypocrisy involved when that same person says that alcohol is ok, when the negative health effects of alcohol are proven time and time again, whereas, there is only some incomplete data on the relationship between marijuana and mental health.
There is no hypocrisy involved in exposing the usage of a chemical substance, in this case cannabis, for what it is, namely damaging to your health.
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Originally posted by RagnorakI did not say that "alcohol is ok".
There is hypocrisy involved when that same person says that alcohol is ok, when the negative health effects of alcohol are proven time and time again, whereas, there is only some incomplete data on the relationship between marijuana and mental health.
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Alcohol can be used in very modest quantities. This does not cause serious health problems. Cannabis and tobacco however cannot be used in modest quantities without causing serious health problems.
Thàt's the difference.
Originally posted by RagnorakEven if a single toke caused one's brain to evaporate, the state would still have no business saying what a person can and cannot do to his or her own body, provided it affects no-one else.
There is hypocrisy involved when that same person says that alcohol is ok, when the negative health effects of alcohol are proven time and time again, whereas, there is only some incomplete data on the relationship between marijuana and mental health.
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Originally posted by ivanhoeCannabis and tobacco use in any quantity do not guarantee serious health problems; they contribute to them. It's clear that habitual tobacco use is very damaging to health (in fact, so is habitual cannabis use, at least if smoked), but that does not mean that consuming 'modest quantities' of tobacco causes serious health problems (it is difficult for many people, however, to consume modest quantities of tobacco, given the joys of nicotine).
I did not say that "alcohol is ok".
Alcohol can be used in very modest quantities. This does not cause serious health problems. Cannabis and tobacco however cannot be used in modest quantities without causing serious health problems.
Thàt's the difference.